Buy the 2024 CX-5 NA to avoid cylinder head crack issue?

[N7turbo]

The other benefit for Mazda is both old engine and transmission are much more reliable than those modified to accommodate the cylinder deactivation.

Exactly what I was getting at.

 

[MN243]

^ It certainly would be. Has it been answered though if the 2024+ models without CD still have the problematic cylinder heads? If so, that may still give me pause for purchase.

For what it's worth, my cousin has a 2022 with CD without issues.

 

[Moonlighter]

Was reading this thread with some interest.

Checked the VIN on my CX5 Akers build date August 02, 2024, delivered to me Aug 30.

The 8th digit in the VIN is L.

Car of course has iStop which is standard on all Australian CX5’s, including the 2.0, 2.5 NA and 2.5T.

The Australian 2024 MY brochure shows all 2.5NA engines have cylinder deactivation.

Of course, at the bottom of the brochure, there is the usual disclaimer that Mazda reserves the right to alter anything in the specs at any time.

So, sounds like my Akera doesn’t given the L in the ViN…..

Is there any way to tell when you’re driving?

 

[N7turbo]

Go into the Information screen and look for the fuel economy display. Go to the next screen that shows the active cylinders.

 

[Moonlighter]

Go into the Information screen and look for the fuel economy display. Go to the next screen that shows the active cylinders.

Well there you go…..

Despite having the L in the VIN number 8th position, my Australian spec Akera G25 does indeed have CD.

Had to go to the Information screen, select Fuel Economy, press the main button again to find the CD and iStop status page.

Sure enough, I went for a drive and can see the number of active cylinders coming in and out. The implementation is so seamless neither wife nor I could tell when it activated or came back in. Very well done.

Did some more digging/research, found some info from a very credible local mechanical engineering expert, and I am not concerned about CD.

 

[RedBaron]

Did some more digging/research, found some info from a very credible local mechanical engineering expert, and I am not concerned about CD.

The worry is not with the CD itself, it's to do with Mazda thinning the side of the casting to make room for the CD mechanicals, resulting in a thinner wall and greater possibility of cracks.

 

[stickerbush]

The worry is not with the CD itself, it's to do with Mazda thinning the side of the casting to make room for the CD mechanicals, resulting in a thinner wall and greater possibility of cracks.

There is also the torque converter failure that is associated with CD. The transmission on my 2020 was replaced under warranty due to this issue. Granted, it's not a widespread issue but it does happen.

 

[AL Cx5]

The worry is not with the CD itself, it's to do with Mazda thinning the side of the casting to make room for the CD mechanicals, resulting in a thinner wall and greater possibility of cracks.

Interesting!

And makes me wonder if Mazda machines the castings different when no CD.....?

 

[yrwei52]

Interesting!

And makes me wonder if Mazda machines the castings different when no CD.....?

Keep in mind the automatic transmission for the 2.5L with CD is different from the one used on the 2.5L without CD. Here is the latest TSB about torque converter failure on CD equipped automatic transaxle:

TSB No.: 05-005/23 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 Upshift

“DESCRIPTION
Some vehicles may exhibit a chirp noise (stick-slip noise) from the automatic transaxle (AT) when shifting from 3 to 4 while driving. This may be caused by the automatic transaxle fluid (ATF) being contaminated by iron powder due to excessive wearing of the lock up clutch in the torque converter.”

The reason why the ATF could get contaminated by iron powder is because the CD transmission uses a more traditional single clutch with more aggressive material to survive early lockup which would experience significant issues and early wear. It has a pendulum damper which is built into the torque converter and because of its size there is no room for the multi-plate lockup clutch set that the non-CD transmission has.

This has been an issue for a little bit. The CD cars do not have the same lockup wet clutch set as the regular skyactivs do. They use a more traditional single clutch with a more aggressive material to survive early lockup. Many oems that have tried early lockup with this style of clutch experience significant issues and early wear. GM with the 6L80/90 family are the most notorious for this. The clutch set that turns on going into 4th is a more aggressive friction material that is already high metal content. The iron contaminates that set and is similar to what happens with a brake pad that becomes contaminated and makes a squealing sound.

Yep, the pendulum damper is built into the torque converter and because of its size there is no room for the multi plate lockup clutch set that the non CD cars have.View attachment 324785

2017~2025: CX-5 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 upshift - Bulletin 05-005/23

 

[AL Cx5]

Keep in mind the automatic transmission for the 2.5L with CD is different from the one used on the 2.5L without CD. Here is the latest TSB about torque converter failure on CD equipped automatic transaxle:

TSB No.: 05-005/23 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 Upshift

“DESCRIPTION
Some vehicles may exhibit a chirp noise (stick-slip noise) from the automatic transaxle (AT) when shifting from 3 to 4 while driving. This may be caused by the automatic transaxle fluid (ATF) being contaminated by iron powder due to excessive wearing of the lock up clutch in the torque converter.”

The reason why the ATF could get contaminated by iron powder is because the CD transmission uses a more traditional single clutch with more aggressive material to survive early lockup which would experience significant issues and early wear. It has a pendulum damper which is built into the torque converter and because of its size there is no room for the multi-plate lockup clutch set that the non-CD transmission has.





2017~2025: CX-5 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 upshift - Bulletin 05-005/23

Very informative!

Sounds like what so many folks are saying, avoid a CD.

This makes a turbo with more robust trans and brakes look even better.

If I owned a CD, I'd install an external trans filter with magnet. The magnet should catch any iron that g ers past 2 filters.

I installed an external trans filter on my Dodge, Diesel. Tran lasted 230k mi and I killed it trying to change out a band. This trans should go 350 to 400k mi. I'll change the filter every 30k mi when changing ATF.

 

[yrwei52]

Very informative!

Sounds like what so many folks are saying, avoid a CD.

This makes a turbo with more robust trans and brakes look even better.

If I owned a CD, I'd install an external trans filter with magnet. The magnet should catch any iron that g ers past 2 filters.

I installed an external trans filter on my Dodge, Diesel. Tran lasted 230k mi and I killed it trying to change out a band. This trans should go 350 to 400k mi. I'll change the filter every 30k mi when changing ATF.

View attachment 332589

The idea of installing a second external ATF filter on our SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission isn’t possible as there’s no external ATF lines available to hook up. Yes we can find a third party ATF cooler adapter to get ATF circulating access, but that seems to be only a temporary solution not sure you can keep the adapter permanently on the ATF cooler location.

Of course I was wondering why the big factory ATF filter can’t do the job filtering out the most of iron powder. And the TC replacement procedure outlined in the TSB described nothing about replacing the dirty ATF filter but the ATF change steps (3X drain&fills officially verified).